Improvement in ladders



NITED STATES PATENT EEICE,

DANIEL ARGERBRIGHT, OF TROY, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN LADDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,627, dated February9, 1875; application filed August 12, 1874.

To all whom it may concern: p

Beit known that I, DANIEL ARGERBRIGHT, of Troy, Miami county, Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Ladders, of

which the following is a speciiication:

My invention has for its principal object a more secure and permanentconnectionpbetween the steps and the sides of a ladder, while serving atthe same time to brace and stilen the parts attached. These objects Iaccomplish by means of a series of metallic j sheaths or clips andtie-rods, as hereinafter O represent the rods, and D D the stretchers ofthe back prop.

The principal feature of my invention is the means by which I bothconnect and strengthen the steps and side pieces, and which I nowproceed to describe.

Each step, except the top one, is grooved at b on its under side, toreceive a wire rod, E, which, passing through the stiles, receives anut, F, the end of the wire being properly scrcw-threaded for thatpurpose. Both ends ot' each of said steps have a metallic casing, G,from which projects a clip or sheath, H, adapted to embrace the innerside of the stile in the manner shown. H is a similar clip for theoutside lof the stile, as represented. Both clips and casing aresuitably perforated to.

permit the passage of the wire-rod E.

The advantages of this mode of construction are obvious. For example,instead ofthe large mortises for the wooden step-tenons, which alwayseither seriously weaken the style or necessitate unwieldly thickness,there is only required a small hole for the wire tierod E, and even thisslight diminution is much more than compensated for by the bracingaction of the clips. The casings Gr, also, at the same time operate tostrengthen and brace the steps, and even should either of the latter bebroken, it could be quickly replaced by a new one, by merely unscrewingof the wire rod, without disturbing anyotherpart of the ladder.

The top step is attachedv by means of ferrules I I', which engage overthe tops ot' the Stiles, and have perforated lugs i, through` whichwood-screws J pass into the under side of the step. Projecting fromthese ferrules are ears K, to which are hinged other cars, L, ofi'errules M, which en gage over the tops ofthe rear props. Lugs k on theears K, engaging lugs l on ears L, prevent the props slipping out toofar, and thus remove a cause of frequent accidents. The stretchers D ot'the props have ferrules P, whose clips Q enwrap the inner sides, whilesimilar clips, R, enwrap the outer sides of the props, and a wire ro'd,E', passing through all these parts, and taking nuts F', operates toiirmly connect the parts together, and to brace and stiien the saine.

The rounds of a long ladder will be secured in a similar way. (See Fig.4.)

Whiledescribing the preferred form of my invention I reserve the rightto vary the same in non-essential particulars-for example, the wiretie-rods may have their ends secured by riveting either in conjunctionwith or substi* tution of the nuts, or they may have a nut on one endmerely, and a head on the other.

I claim as new and ot' my invention- In a ladder, the combination of thestiles A A', steps Bl B2 B3, clip-casings Gr H, outside clips H', andtie-rod E, all constructed and arranged as herein set forth, for thepurpose specified.

`In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

DANIEL ARGERBRIGl-IT. Attest:

f GEo. H. KNIGHT,

GEORGE GREEN.

